Car insurance for people with driving convictions

Read our guide and learn how to save on car insurance if you have points on your licence, plus decipher driving offence codes

Drivers with motoring offences don’t just face fines — driving convictions can also result in increased car insurance premiums. Learn more about car insurance for convicted drivers and find out how to save in our guide.

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Why is car insurance more expensive for drivers with motoring offences?

Drivers with previous motoring offences tend to face higher car insurance costs than those with clean licences — convicted drivers are statistically more likely to make claims on their car insurance, so costs are usually increased to reflect this risk.

Insurers consider all types of driving convictions when calculating car insurance premiums — even a minor speeding offence can hike your premiums if it resulted in points (also known as endorsements) on your driving licence. The more points you have on your licence, the more will see you as more of a risk on the road.

How will motoring convictions affect my car insurance costs?

Insurers will see driving offences as proof that you are a risk on the road, so it’s very likely that your premium will increase. How much they increase by will depend on the amount of offences you’ve committed and how severe they are. Some insurers may refuse to cover you at all if you have previous driving convictions.

More common offences, such as minor speeding (known as an SP30 offence due to its corresponding driving offence code) are likely to result in three points on your licence and a minor impact on your car insurance premiums. Other common driving offences include speeding on a motorway (SP50), failing to comply with traffic light signals (TS10), and using a handheld device while driving (CU80). Each insurer will weight premiums differently based on the severity of the offence and how many offences you’ve committed in the past.

Points will remain on your licence from 4-11 years, depending on the severity of the offence. Insurers will ask about any offences committed in the last three to five years, so your insurance costs are likely to be impacted for this period.

For more serious driving offences (such as drink driving — various codes DR10-DR90) you could be temporarily disqualified from driving. You may also be disqualified if you accumulate 12 points on your licence within three years (or six points within two years of getting your licence). To find out more about insurance costs for previously disqualified drivers, read our guide.

As well as increased premiums, you may be forced to pay higher excess costs in the event of a claim. If you’ve recently got a driving conviction and are shocked by your new premium prices, don’t worry — there are many ways you can save.

Driving offence codes

Each type of conviction has a corresponding driving offence code assigned by the DVLA. You must inform your insurer if you receive any of these driving offence codes on your licence:

AC10-AC30: Accident offences, including failing to stop after an accident

BA10 to BA60: Driving or attempting to drive while disqualified

CD10-CD30: Careless driving offences, including driving without due care and attention

CU80: Lack of control over the vehicle, including use of a mobile phone

DD10-DD90: Dangerous driving offences, including causing death by dangerous driving

DR10-DR90: Drink driving, including some drug driving offences

DG10-DG60: Drug driving offences

IN10: Driving without insurance

LC20-LC50: Driving licence offences

MS10-MS90: ‘Miscellaneous’ offences, including leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position

MW10: Motorway offences (excluding speeding)

PC10-PC30: Pedestrian crossing offences

SP10-SP50: Speeding offences

TS10-TS70: Failure to comply with traffic signs

UT50: Aggravated taking of a vehicle

MR codes: Points accrued while driving in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, or the Isle of Man.

How can I save money on car insurance if I have motoring offences?

Your car insurance premiums will depend on many factors, including the type of car you drive. If you’re in the market for a new car, consider choosing one in a low insurance group. You can also add a named driver to your policy if they’re likely to drive your car occasionally — if they have a clean licence this could help to reduce your premiums.

Some insurers will offer rehabilitation course discounts, so be sure to declare any courses such as speed awareness and drink driver rehabilitation. If you’ve just been caught offending and offered to take one of these courses, bear in mind that this could reduce your insurance costs in the long-term, potentially saving you more than the upfront cost of the course.

Some of the big-name insurers will steer clear of drivers with motoring offences, so don’t be alarmed if your current insurer refuses to offer you a renewal quote. There are many specialist insurance providers who deal with drivers with an offence history, so be sure to shop around to get the best deal. Get started by using the tool below:

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